Welcome to PAL Junior
Development Football
This playbook is yours to keep. The information it contains is very
important to the success of our program and to your enjoyment of
the game. Please read it thoroughly and study it before and after
practice. It is especially important to study your playbook early in the
season when so much of the information may be new to you. Ask
Mom or Dad to help you with any parts that may be confusing to you.
Everything discussed in the playbook will be explained during
practice. We will run most of the plays described in the book and
maybe a few more, depending upon the players we have and their
specific skills. We will be adding a few basic pass plays a little later
in the season after you have learned the basic running plays
illustrated here.
Our coaches will work with you to teach you the safe, proper
blocking and tackling techniques as well as the fundamentals of the
various positions. I hope that each player will learn how to play
every position both offensively and defensively.
It is very important to attend practice, but if you have to miss a
practice please call or email your coach before hand. During
practice please pay attention to what the coaches have to say and
do your best to follow their instructions. If you do so, I am confident
you will have a safe and enjoyable football experience.
Good Luck and have Fun!
Coach Rob & Police Athletic League Staff
PAL Junior Development
Football Mission
Mission:
The mission of the Police Athletic
League Junior Development
youth Football Program is to
provide a safe, player-friendly
environment, in which children
can learn, play, and enjoy the
game of Football. Essential to
this mission are:
• Balanced Competition
• Full and Equal Participation
• A Unique Coaching approach
The goal of this program is that
every single participant has a
positive and enjoyable experience
regardless of their skill or abilityan experience in which each
player has the opportunity to
develop new skills, gain
confidence, and learn life-lessons
regarding the importance of
teamwork, responsibility,
sportsmanship, and discipline.
Achieving this goal can
encourage continued participation
in the sport.
PAL Junior Development
Overview and Expectations of
Coaches
Overview
The Police Athletic League Junior Development Youth Football Program is
patterned in principle after the NFL’s Junior Development Program and while the
implementation of this program is uniquely different, the guiding principles of the
two programs are identical:
Make It Fun
Limit Standing Around
Everyone Plays
Teach Every Position to Every Participant
Emphasize the Fundamentals
Establish a Progression of Skill Development for Every Participant
Yell Encouragement, Whisper Constructive Criticism
Many experts agree that these should be the objectives of any quality, wholesome
youth sports program, but unfortunately insensitive and overly competitive adults
often undermine these principles
Junior Development Football addresses the common “problem situations” that are
so prevalent in youth football today, including: Insufficient playing time for all
players, an overemphasis on winning, insensitive and abusive coaches and
competitive mismatches.
Junior Development football coaches are expected to focus on the fun aspects of
playing the game of football by following these “fundamental” guidelines:
– Make drills short, realistic, and game-like
– Keep all players active, and keep lines short.
– Let kids make some decisions
– Find something each player does well, and let him demonstrate it.
– Praise and reward effort and accomplishment in any form
– Be specific and animated in your praise
– Criticize the technique, not the individual
– Break-up routines with unusual activities
– Give all players an opportunity to play and practice their favorite
position
– Remember: Players are children, not adults
PAL Junior Development
Football Divisions
Players participating in the Junior Development League program
are grouped by age and weight, but an additional factor -- ability
-- is also a consideration in placing a player in a particular
division. Each Division will consist of 34 – 36 players. The 2014
season will include approximately 216 players, who will be
grouped into five (5) separate divisions, including MS Football.
Division 1: These are the youngest and smallest players,
generally 7 – 8 yrs old, and weighing an average of 60 pounds.
Division 2: Players 8 – 9 yrs old, weighing an average of 70
pounds.
Division 3: Players 9 – 10 yrs old, weighing an average of 85
pounds.
Division 4: Players 10 – 11 yrs old, typically weighing an
average of 100 pounds.
Middle School Division: Players 12 – 14 yrs old, some 6th
graders as well as 7th & 8th graders.
These age and weight guidelines are flexible to reflect a player’s
skill level and experience. During the first 3 weeks of practice
every player will be broken up into smaller, manageable groups,
giving the coaches appropriate time for evaluation. The coaches
will then meet and assign each player to the appropriate division.
Hole Numbers
7
5
Left End
1
3
Left
Tackle
Left
Guard
2
Center
4
Right
Guard
6
Right
Tackle
8
Right End
Quarterback
#1
Left
Halfback
#2
Fullback
#3
Right
Halfback
#4
The Straight “T” formation is the Offense run in the Junior Development Program
The Holes are defined as the spaces in between each offensive linemen. These
holes are numbered as follows:
•
The holes to the right of the Center are assigned even numbers; the #2 hole
is closest to the Center, followed by the #4 hole, then the #6, and then the #8.
•
The holes to the left of the Center are assigned odd numbers: the #1 hole
being the hole closest to the Center, followed by the #3 hole, then the #5, and
then the #7.
Spacing
Spacing (or the Splits) is the distance between the players on the Offensive Line.
•
The Offensive Guards line up 1.5 feet from the Center
•
The Offensive Tackles line up 3.0 feet from the Guards
•
The Ends line up 3.5 feet from the Tackles
In the straight “T” formation, the running backs line up “one-arm length” apart with
the Fullback directly behind the quarterback. In “Spread” or “Power”
formations, the Halfback will line up in spread positions as follows:
–
The “Notch” Back lines up between the Tackle and the End, and 1-yard
in the backfield.
–
The “Flanker” back lines up 1-yard outside the End and 1-yard in the
backfield
Offensive Blocking Priorities
DE
Left
End
DT
Left
Tackle
DG
Left
Guard
DG
Right
Guard
Center
Def-Guard lined
up in “Gap”
Def-Guard lined up
“Head-On” the
Offensive Guard
DT
Right
Tackle
DE
Right
End
Def-Tackle lined
up on “Outside”
of Offensive Tackle
Terminology:
“On-Side” and “Back-Side”: “On-Side” refers to the side to which a play will go.
“Back-Side” refers to the side away (or opposite) from which the play will go.
Example: If we decide to run the ball to the right, the right-side of the Center is the “OnSide”, and the left-side of the Center is the “Back-Side”. In this case, the Offensive Linemen
located to the right of the Center are called “On-Side” linemen. Also in this case, the Offensive
Linemen located to the left of the Center are called the “Back-Side” linemen.
“Gap” and “Head-Up” or “Head-On”: The space between the Offensive Linemen.
When a Defensive player lines up in the space between the linemen, we say that he is lined-up
in the “Gap”. If the Defensive player lines up directly in front of an Offensive Lineman, we say
that he is playing “Head-On” that Offensive Lineman. (See examples listed in diagram above).
“Inside” and “Outside”: “Inside” is the term that refers to any position, or direction,
closer to the ball. “Outside” refers to any position, or direction, away-from the ball. In the
example listed above, the Defensive Guard is lined up to the “Inside” of the Left Offensive
Guard.
The key for Offensive Line Blocking by On-Side Offensive Linemen is:
GOL
G:
Stands for GAP, and that is the blocker’s priority. This means that if there is
a Defensive Player lined up in a blocker’s inside-gap, that is the player the
blocker must block.
O:
If there is no Defensive Player lined-up in a blocker’s inside-gap, then the
blocker must block any player lined up directly “Over” or in front of him.
L:
If there is no Defensive Linemen lined up in a blocker’s inside-gap or in
front of him, then the blocker should block the closest Linebacker.
Back-side Offensive Linemen always block the Defensive Player
that attempts to come through their inside gap.
Offensive Plays
31 Dive
32 Dive
1
2
3
1
4
2
3
4
On these two plays, the ball is handed to the fullback running between the
Guard and Center. After making the handoff, the Quarterback fakes to the
halfback as shown.
45 Slant
26 Slant
1
2
3
1
4
2
3
4
On these two plays, the companions to 31 and 32, the ball is faked to the
fullback and handed to the halfback. The key is a good fake to the fullback.
23 Dive
44 Dive
1
2
3
1
4
2
3
4
On these two plays, the Quarterback hands the ball to the Halfback as
shown, without a fake. The Fullback runs to the back-side of the
Quarterback.
Offensive Plays
Counters / Sweeps
45 Counter
26 Counter
1
2
1
4
3
2
4
3
On the 26-Counter, the Quarterback fakes the ball to the Fullback through the
#1 hole, and makes a deep handoff to the Left Half-Back, who runs through the
#6 hole. For the 45-Counter, the QB fakes to the FB in the #2 hole, then makes
the deep handoff to the Right Half-Back, who runs through the #5 hole.
47 Sweep
28 Sweep
1
2
3
1
4
2
3
4
On the 28 Sweep, the Quarterback makes a deep handoff to the Left HalfBack, who runs through to the # 8 hole. On the 47 Sweep, the QB makes a
deep handoff to the Right Half-Back, who runs to the # 7 hole.
37 Toss Sweep
38 Toss Sweep
1
2
3
1
4
2
3
4
On the 38 Toss Sweep, the Quarterback opens to the right and pitches the
ball to the Full-Back, who runs to the # 8 hole. On the 37 Toss Sweep, the
QB opens left and pitches the ball to the FB, who runs to the # 7 hole.
Offensive Plays –
Reverses/Rollouts
Flanker Right – 47 Reverse
1
2
Flanker Left – 28 Reverse
4
2
1
3
4
3
On the 47 Sweep Reverse, the Quarterback will hand-off to the #2 HB, who will run the
same motion as a #28 Sweep. The #4 HB runs behind the #2 HB, and receive the hand-off
(this is an “Outside” hand-off for the #2 Back). On the 28 Sweep Reverse, the QB will
hand-off to the #4 HB, who will run the same motion as a #47 Sweep. The #2HB will
receive the hand-off from the #4 HB.
Flanker Left 17 Rollout
Flanker Right 18 Rollout
2
4
2
1
1
3
3
4
On the Flanker Right – 18 rollout, the QB will rollout to his left, making a hand-fake to the
FB through the #1 hole. The QB then runs a Sweep-Right around the Right-End. On the 17Rollout, the QB will roll to his right, faking to the #2 hole, then reversing direction, running
to the #7 Hole.
17-Counter
18-Counter
1
1
2
3
4
2
3
4
On the 18-Counter, the QB will make a hand-fake to the #1 hole to the FB, then reversefield and run through the 8 hole. The #2 and #4 backs will run toward the #7 hole. On the
17-Counter, the direction is reversed, with the hand-fake to the #2 hole, and the QB
running to the #7 hole.
Offensive Plays –
Passing Plays
Flankers – Right TE Seam Pass
Flankers - Left TE Seam Pass
2
4
1
2
1
3
3
Flankers Left TE Arrow Pass
2
4
1
Flanker
goes 1st
Flankers Right TE Arrow Pass
2
1
4
Flanker
goes 1st
3
3
Fake 31 – 27 Flair Pass
Fake 32 – 48 Flair Pass
1
1
2
4
3
4
2
3
4
Offensive Plays – Passing Plays
Flankers – Right Bubble Pass
Flankers - Left Bubble Pass
2
4
1
2
1
3
3
Fake 45 Slant – TE Pass
Fake 26 Slant – TE Pass
1
2
3
4
1
4
2
3
4
Wide Receiver Right or Left Pass
2
#1 - Hitch
#2 - Slant
1
3
4
#3 – Quick Out
#4 – Go Route
Defensive Formations
The 6-3 Defense
LDE
LDG
LDT
LB
RDG
RDT
RDE
LB
MLB
DB
DB
The Police Athletic League’s Junior Development Football program
limits the defensive formations that can be used to the 6-3 and 5-4
defenses and does not allow linebackers to Blitz.
* The 5-4 defense is limited to divisions 2 & 3
The 5-4 Defense
DE
LB
DB
DT
LDG
LB
RDG
LB
DE
LB
DB